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This page has the questions and answers for issues related to Telescopes
and associated equipment.
- 9/8/99 - Kurt
Woolslayer - "Greetings from Rota. I am thinking of ordering the
Meade's Maksutov ETX-125. Shipping costs to Rota via UPS seem out
outrageous. Also they are back ordered. Have you had any experience
with them or the ETX-90? If so what do you think of it for high
school telescope? Any suggestions on getting it here cheaply?"
Ans: [kjm] I am not familiar with the Meade Maksutov ETX-125,
although I have a catalog in front of me and it looks nice - a good
size for learning with. I have used Meade 8" and 10" sizes, and was
not impressed with them compared to Celestron. There were parts on the
telescope that were moveable which I didn't think should be moveable --
and this made it hard to use. The other feature which I hated with
Meades -- (which is fixable at a cost) is the fact they put viewfinders
on which are not straight through viewing. This may be more
"comfortable" on the neck, but miserable for actually finding things,
since I sight along the tube with one eye, and straight through the
finder with the other. I think this would be especially troublesome
for beginners! Regarding shipping -- I don't have too many ideas
there. You might try talking to the supervisor and ask if they would
make shipping a donation . . . . or if you know of someone coming to
Rota they could bring it as excess baggage.
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